Heat production from low wear friction - efficiency

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the efficiency of producing heat from low wear friction, exploring methods and theoretical implications of friction in various contexts. Participants examine the relationship between friction, heat production, and wear, as well as historical perspectives on these concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the efficiency of heat production from friction, suggesting that friction typically results in energy loss rather than efficiency.
  • Another participant proposes that stirring a viscous liquid could be a method for producing heat with low wear, referencing historical experiments by Joule.
  • A later reply raises the question of whether friction can exist without wear, indicating an interest in heat generation without associated wear.
  • Participants express fascination with the historical development of the understanding of heat and force relationships in physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There appears to be some disagreement regarding the interpretation of efficiency in the context of friction and heat production, with multiple perspectives on the relationship between wear and heat generation. The discussion remains unresolved on several points.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference historical experiments and concepts that may depend on specific definitions of efficiency and friction, which are not fully clarified in the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying thermodynamics, mechanical engineering, or the physics of materials, particularly in relation to friction and heat production.

jon c
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heat production from low wear friction - efficiency

What are some efficient methods of producing heat from low wear friction?

Regards
 
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Friction is always almost perfectly efficient at producing heat...I'm not sure what you are really looking for.
 
russ_watters said:
Friction is always almost perfectly efficient at producing heat...
I think that's something like an oxymoron (there's an equivalent for statements, I believe). Efficiency normally refers to the system losing energy through friction. Friction always produces Heat and sometimes a small amount of electric charge separation.

If you want low wear with heat production then stirring a viscous liquid would be one way. Joule and others did experiments with this method, years ago. A very painstaking process.
 
That was all good, thankyou

My next question is: can there exist friction without wear? I will run this a separate thread. (This would then by definition be heat generation with no wear.) Interesting someone said that studies have been done with viscous fluids.
 
Have a look at this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_equivalent_of_heat"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nice article thankyou.
I find this subject fascinating. The relationship between the large scale mechanical world and the physics of matter. Also it is amazing how these fundamental relationships (heat and force) were only fully accepted and unified about 150 years ago.
 

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